Advantages of Preservation of Obligatory Voice Communication on the VHF Radio Channel 16

Channel 16 of the VHF radio band is the most commonly used way of communication between vessels. Alt-hough there are strict rules not to use it for routine communication, many officers neglect them. When Digital Selective Calling had been presented to the GMDSS system, it was no longer obligatory to keep a watch on channel 16, however, on the waters of the United States such an obligation is still in force. Officers find DSC system quite difficult to use so the European countries should revise their politics and consider restoration of obligatory watchkeeping on channel 16.